Helpful ReplyTwo or Three Monitors?

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razor
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2018/07/06 19:48:44 (permalink)

Two or Three Monitors?

Hey Folks--
 
It's time for me to seriously think about upgrading my monitors. I used to work with a company that specializes in mulit-display configurations in a business setting, but I'm thinking of buying from them for my studio now.
 
The thing is, their stand configurations would make it possible for me to have 3, 21.5" monitors even though I have very limited studio space. I am completely dependent on 2 monitors, and wouldn't reduce that. I also use three monitors at my day job...but the more I think about it, the more I'm wondering what I would place on each monitor if I go with 3-- or is that overkill?
 
What are your thoughts on 3 monitors--I know it's a personal decision, but I wonder if you have a Cakewalk work-space layout that's customized for three monitors, and what is it?
 
Cheers
 
PS. I definitely can use three monitors for mastering in Wavelab--but I only spend a fraction of my time in WL compared to CW.

Stephen Davis
 
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#1
BobF
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Re: Two or Three Monitors? 2018/07/06 23:55:28 (permalink)
I went with a single 43" 4K, which is the same as 4 X 1920x1080, a while back.  I will never go back.
 
I still have one of my 1920x1080 off to the side for ancillary use, but for the DAW it's the big, single display all the way.

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Leadfoot
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Re: Two or Three Monitors? 2018/07/07 00:48:44 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby razor 2018/07/09 21:08:54
I have two monitors now, and use one for track view, and the other for the console view. If I had a video card that supported three monitors, I would use the third for VST instruments, piano roll view, or plugins.
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Tim Flannagin
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Re: Two or Three Monitors? 2018/07/07 00:57:15 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby razor 2018/07/09 21:09:04
If you can run 3, I'd run 3. I like having one for track view, one for the console view and one for whichever vst I'm working with. I'd eventually like to move to a 4K setup like Bob's, but that's where I am currently.

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GaryMedia
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Re: Two or Three Monitors? 2018/07/07 03:39:03 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby razor 2018/07/09 21:09:32
I had 3 displays...track view in the center, console bus view on the left, VST's on the right. It was great. Their sizes were 28-28-28 as HD, then 24-30-24.
I now use a single 55-inch 4k which gives me the same pixels per inch as my 28's. I have an article on my website called '4K Hooray' about the calculations and the journey. You may find it helpful.
post edited by GaryMedia - 2018/07/08 13:03:51

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Genghis
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Re: Two or Three Monitors? 2018/07/07 04:24:52 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby razor 2018/07/09 21:09:49
I went to a laptop for portability, but when I'm at home it's also connected to a 43" 4K monitor.  Best I've ever worked with, and I can still use the laptop screen for extra stuff. I'll generally have my RME Mixer up there so that I can make minor adjustments to the way it is configured and have my DAW open on the other screen with track view on top and the mixer docked at the bottom.  I was using the dual monitor thing with track view on one and mixer view on the other, but I really like this way better.

They call 'em fingers, but I've never seen 'em fing. 
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#6
soens
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Re: Two or Three Monitors? 2018/07/07 04:53:22 (permalink)


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TheMaartian
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Re: Two or Three Monitors? 2018/07/07 16:00:13 (permalink)
For me? One. My next monitor. Not 4K. Not as expensive. Now down to US$750. One reason I own Samsung TVs and monitors is that they're the only hardware tech company to have service/repair personnel in all 50 states. I needed to use them once. They were at my house 2 days later with the correct part. New TV working again. No charge. No need to ship it back to the vendor.
 
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Re: Two or Three Monitors? 2018/07/07 18:45:52 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby razor 2018/07/09 21:11:02
I use 3. a 22 and a 24 for track and console above the Macke which is down about 4" lower than counter on both sides. I have a 21" sitting to the right directly in front of the Akai keyboard. I use that with the keyboard and  instruments wfhen tracking. When mixing I use the 3rd for parking instruments and FX. I even have a pair of speakerson each side of the monitor so I get a good stereo field. Number 3 will rotate 90 degrees so I can have it in portrait and have thing very close the the other monitors. I would trade the 2 main ones for a 27" or a curved but would still want the keyboard monitor. My 3rd sits on the desk but the other 2 are on arms above the Mackie.  

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Re: Two or Three Monitors? 2018/07/08 03:08:03 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby razor 2018/07/09 21:11:33
I only run a second monitor with DAWs, which is generally for Console View or VSTs. I am not sure if 3 monitors would be useful, but they will definitely take up more real-estate on the desk. Track View has always been my nemesis, and I hit B, I, and D a lot when working, but realized that even then the Track View was too narrow. I ended up getting a ultrawide monitor to counter this and it has been very beneficial for me. I went with a simple 2560x1080 since my viewing distance is almost 3' away and it made no sense to buy a 4K and dumb down its resolution so that I could read it. I was specifically seeking the 21:9 ratio, and that extra width is nice for editing.

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Re: Two or Three Monitors? 2018/07/08 04:54:43 (permalink)
I really don't know how it would work for mixing, but I actually use 3 monitors (sort of) for work.  I have a 14" laptop that is almost useless except as a place to keep my email in case anything hot comes in.  I have a 27" monitor mounted on an arm directly above that, and a 32" monitor sitting to the left. 
 
That arrangement works well for me doing database programming and building analysis and reporting tools.  I really think of mine though as if I had 2 monitors that I actually do the work on, and the little tiny laptop window is just there for the emails. It is way too small for any real coding or development work.

They call 'em fingers, but I've never seen 'em fing. 
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Jim Roseberry
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Re: Two or Three Monitors? 2018/07/09 12:37:59 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby razor 2018/07/09 21:12:11
I'd think about how you want to work... and don't forget about ergonomics.
ie: You don't want the video monitors messing with your studio monitor speaker position.
 
I'd want at least one large video monitor (between my nearfield monitor speakers).
A single/large 4k video monitor fits nicely between a pair of nearfield monitor speakers.
If you try to squeeze two large video monitors between the nearfield monitor speakers, they'll be too far apart.
 

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dwardzala
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Re: Two or Three Monitors? 2018/07/09 13:09:44 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby razor 2018/07/09 21:12:23
To avoid the problem Jim mentions, I have gone vertical stack with my two monitor set up.  My top monitor is a bit too high but I am starting to look a solutions to allow me to angle my bottom monitor to something lik 30 degrees which would be cool since I put console view on it mostly.

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#13
razor
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Re: Two or Three Monitors? 2018/07/09 21:08:21 (permalink)
BobF
I went with a single 43" 4K, which is the same as 4 X 1920x1080, a while back.  I will never go back.
 
I still have one of my 1920x1080 off to the side for ancillary use, but for the DAW it's the big, single display all the way.


Yeah, there's no way I could make a monitor that large fit in my 11'x5' studio! I'd have to give up my near field monitors!

Stephen Davis
 
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#14
razor
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Re: Two or Three Monitors? 2018/07/09 21:18:54 (permalink)
Thanks for all the info. I should say that I'm not sure, and I'm not in the studio now, but I don't think my GPU will work with 4K--at least it won't take advantage of the full 4k resolution.
 
There should be a punch-line after I say, "My studio is so small..." but I am seriously grateful for it. It's just forced me to really plan everything out to make sure it fits, and doesn't interfere with what's most important with mixing and mastering - which of course is sound. If it wasn't for the stands from places like Digital Tigers, I probably wouldn't even be able to think about 3 decent size monitors.
 
Cheers
 

Stephen Davis
 
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#15
BobF
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Re: Two or Three Monitors? 2018/07/10 12:04:34 (permalink)
razor
BobF
I went with a single 43" 4K, which is the same as 4 X 1920x1080, a while back.  I will never go back.
 
I still have one of my 1920x1080 off to the side for ancillary use, but for the DAW it's the big, single display all the way.


Yeah, there's no way I could make a monitor that large fit in my 11'x5' studio! I'd have to give up my near field monitors!


razor
BobF
I went with a single 43" 4K, which is the same as 4 X 1920x1080, a while back.  I will never go back.
 
I still have one of my 1920x1080 off to the side for ancillary use, but for the DAW it's the big, single display all the way.


Yeah, there's no way I could make a monitor that large fit in my 11'x5' studio! I'd have to give up my near field monitors!





Horizontally, this display is almost the exact same size as the 2 x 21.5" it replaced.  It is also twice as tall, which usually isn't the limiting direction.
 
I chose this size so the display could be the same distance as those it replaced, maintaining the same physical size of objects on the screen.  I probably could've have a bit smaller, maybe even 39-40", without inducing eye strain, but I didn't want to risk it.

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BobF
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Re: Two or Three Monitors? 2018/07/10 12:56:58 (permalink)
A quick thought ...
 
You could always get a big 4K with a height that matches your available horizontal space and run it in portrait, turned sideways.
 
I haven't done this with a 4K, but I have with a 21.5" 1920x1080 to view PDFs.
 
Just a thought that might save you some bux and simplify the mounting, while removing display frames.

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Grem
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Re: Two or Three Monitors? 2018/07/10 15:27:59 (permalink)
I have a 27" 1920x1080 monitor. I can see really well with it. It's large enough to have all trks I need on the screen. I use Screen sets profusely. So even though I still have one of my 19"  monitor on the side, the only thing I put on it is the RME mixer. I do everything on the 27". 
 
Oh and I use the second monitor for putting up lyrics too. Other than that, it's just used on 'as needed' basis. 

Grem

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Re: Two or Three Monitors? 2018/07/28 14:43:55 (permalink)
The answer from me to the OP: It depends.
 
I think it depends on several things such as the type of monitor doubled or tripled, the size of the bezel, the aspect ratio, the distance from the sitting position, the amount of desk space you have, and distance/space available between your speakers.
 
Up until now, I ran with three monitors. One Dell U3014 30" 16:10 for my main, center display and two, older 24" 16:9 Viewsonics on each side. It worked, however, my speakers were being partially mask by the outside monitors.  My room and setup could not allow much wiggle room to push the speakers (on stands) further out and back. My desk also isn't very deep. Only 30" front to back so I couldn't push the monitor "wall" back further to get it behind--or in line--with the speakers.
 
Fast-forward to about a week ago. I found and bought a nice, used Dell U3014 for a good price.  My intention was to ditch the 3-screen setup and go with 2...two 30" 16:10 displays.  Well, the bezels on the U3014's are a bit much, when doubled, and due to the constraints of my desk and speakers, the only way I could configure them is side-by-side, directly in front of me.  It just felt awkward.  Centering one monitor and putting the other to the side was extremely awkward.  IMO, these monitors are just too big and tall to run a multi-monitor setup on a normal desk with limiting factors.
 
So I'm down to one display.  One 30" U3014.  I use Live, so flipping between Session and Arrangement views works well with one monitor anyway, so no sweat there.  However, I think I will miss the other monitors for plugins and VST's, which were frequently filling up the space on the 2nd and 3rd monitors of the previous setup.
 
 
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Kman88
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Re: Two or Three Monitors? 2018/11/20 16:03:28 (permalink)
Would a 27 give you the same real estate as 2 x 22's?
I see this on line
https://www.staples.com/H...onitor/product_2720259

Is that resolution too low?

I'm faced with sharing the two 22's been a laptop and a new desktop in picking up. Figured a single monitor would simplify that.

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Kevin Keough
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DeeringAmps
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Re: Two or Three Monitors? 2018/11/20 16:21:06 (permalink)

3 27"

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HeatherHaze
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Re: Two or Three Monitors? 2018/11/21 10:23:58 (permalink)
There's no such thing as too many monitors. 


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